Dinesh Kamath's Editorial 'Migrant workers need security' that was published in Newsband

Migrant workers need security

Human trafficking for labour is taking place in a big way all over the world. We hear news about these labourers being exploited. But nothing concrete is being done to stop this exploitation.

Recently there was a report on forced labour and human trafficking in the Middle East. It made disturbing reading. The number of such victims of forced labour is enormous. These numbers have a huge resonance for India, which accounts for a significant chunk of the labour force there. Human trafficking and labour migration are two different things. When the labour migration fails then trafficking takes place. Most of these migrant workers originate mostly in Asia and Africa.

These workers have to sign a kind of contract with their employer and this prevents most of the migrant workers from leaving their employers. Owing to there existing loopholes and deficits in labour law, the workers have to suffer.  

Human trafficking is considered as something criminal and punishable but yet these laws relating to Human trafficking are not being applied on those people who do such type of trafficking. The recruiting agencies just overlook the interests of migrants and pursue their own agendas. The Gulf states need to get more serious about implementing labour protection measures, and giving all expatriate workers a better deal in wages, housing, and health. The workers must get a fair deal.

Illegal recruitment should be rooted out and there should be more transparent policies and practices of recruitment and employment. Indian government should consider all these points while passing new emigration bill and signing any new bilateral agreements with other countries.

It is high time the government addressed the exploitation of migrant workers who in a bid to escape harsh conditions and lack of opportunities at home landed up in a worse off situation that prevail in some foreign countries. The recruiting agents in the countries of origin should be controlled and get improved the policy environment and legal framework in the countries of destination.

There was news about Bangladesh implementing an electronic card (data base system) for each outgoing migrant worker. This card was supposed to contain all primary information about worker and employer. India can try and adopt the same method to prevent exploitation of the outgoing migrant worker.